Top 4

[spurs-r-us]

The goal, the dream, the myth, the legend, the we beat Milan at the San Siro.

Hear me out here for a second: I think the top 4 is ruining our club.

Spurs have made their name as a cup side, a team that chases silverware with flair and passion. A team that attacks the ball and the goal rather than sitting back.

The last time we saw that Spurs was the 10/11 season under Redknapp, where VDV, Modric, Bale, Lennon wreaked havoc at WHL.

That year we went on a pretty decent CL run, something we all savour...but look at us now.

Everyone is bloody petrified. The players don't want to let in an early goal because we might lose and not get top 4, so they sit static. The fans want the players to play 'The Tottenham Way', but not if it means we lose a match because we might not make top 4. Levy cycles through managers like the fucking plague because he sees something in them that might not be good enough for Top 4.

I want to play in the Champions League as much as the next man, but what is top 4? Fourth isn't a trophy, or anything discernible really. One year we finished fourth and were beaten to a CL spot by Chelsea who actually won a trophy. And indeed, what is the Champions League? We are an English side, 6 games a season against good European teams doesn't take away the fact that our ultimate goal is to win 38 of them from teams on the same island.

It's actually ruining us. We don't care about how we play, or our players and manager - all we care about is finishing top 4. By hook or crook, it doesn't seem to matter.

The most depressing thing; it won't change. As long as this myth perpetuates about top 4 meaning rockstar players, a shiny new stadium and global domination - we detract from the reason we watch this club. Can you honestly tell me that, this far into their Spurs careers, someone like Soldado who was brought in to get us Top 4 is any better than Crouch, who we all hated?

Even more bemusing is that the groupthink behind making the CL isn't to win it, it's simply to be in it. To make up the numbers.

Sport is irrational, that's why we're all here, but it shouldn't be this irrational. Surely our goal should be to cheer on an attractive, passionate and successful side and to bring in some silverware - rather than demanding the myth that is Top 4?

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Top 4 hasn't ruined the club it's ruined some fans. People's expectations are so high it's like they have forgotten what club they are supporting.

 

[ecce_tottenham]

A wonderful, well written post.

However, I think the top 4, or more specifically CL, is two things:
1. Money
2. Ability to attract and keep players. The very players who are too nervous to lose.

Therefore many of the fans feel that missing out mean rebuilding (Lloris, Vertonghen, etc) - though the ridiculous thing about that is that those players themselves were part of a rebuild only 18/20 months ago.

 

[WiganSpur]

It's a very good point the OP has made but top 4 means that we have a far better chance of keeping our best players as they are playing at the highest level of European football.

As a consequence of this we'll have a much more settled side and we might actually be able to add to the squad rather than constantly rebuild. Hence, there is more chance of seeing that attractive football you were writing about.

I think the problem is fans expecting it really. We've got to accept it's going to be very unusual for us to get there without extra financial backing or a new stadium. It's going to be a constant process of rebuilding every year where we lose one or two of our best players and we're just going to have to deal with that and see if we can get lucky under ENIC whilst we're still at WHL.

 

[Kiedis]

Forget top four for now. Let's just see if we can get closer to being a settled and cohesive team both defensively and going forward.

Right now we look like a team that's less than its parts.

 

[Metalhead]

The goal, the dream, the myth, the legend, the we beat Milan at the San Siro.

Hear me out here for a second: I think the top 4 is ruining our club.

Spurs have made their name as a cup side, a team that chases silverware with flair and passion. A team that attacks the ball and the goal rather than sitting back.

The last time we saw that Spurs was the 10/11 season under Redknapp, where VDV, Modric, Bale, Lennon wreaked havoc at WHL.

That year we went on a pretty decent CL run, something we all savour...but look at us now.

Everyone is bloody petrified. The players don't want to let in an early goal because we might lose and not get top 4, so they sit static. The fans want the players to play 'The Tottenham Way', but not if it means we lose a match because we might not make top 4. Levy cycles through managers like the fucking plague because he sees something in them that might not be good enough for Top 4.

I want to play in the Champions League as much as the next man, but what is top 4? Fourth isn't a trophy, or anything discernible really. One year we finished fourth and were beaten to a CL spot by Chelsea who actually won a trophy. And indeed, what is the Champions League? We are an English side, 6 games a season against good European teams doesn't take away the fact that our ultimate goal is to win 38 of them from teams on the same island.

It's actually ruining us. We don't care about how we play, or our players and manager - all we care about is finishing top 4. By hook or crook, it doesn't seem to matter.

The most depressing thing; it won't change. As long as this myth perpetuates about top 4 meaning rockstar players, a shiny new stadium and global domination - we detract from the reason we watch this club. Can you honestly tell me that, this far into their Spurs careers, someone like Soldado who was brought in to get us Top 4 is any better than Crouch, who we all hated?

Even more bemusing is that the groupthink behind making the CL isn't to win it, it's simply to be in it. To make up the numbers.

Sport is irrational, that's why we're all here, but it shouldn't be this irrational. Surely our goal should be to cheer on an attractive, passionate and successful side and to bring in some silverware - rather than demanding the myth that is Top 4?

Oh well, I don't think we'll have to worry about it anyway. We won't make top 4.

 

[Metalhead]

Forget top four for now. Let's just see if we can get closer to being a settled and cohesive team both defensively and going forward.

Right now we look like a team that's less than its parts.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[shelfmonkey]

Hear me out here for a second: I think the top 4 is ruining our club.

Spurs have made their name as a cup side, a team that chases silverware with flair and passion. A team that attacks the ball and the goal rather than sitting back.

The last time we saw that Spurs was the 10/11 season under Redknapp, where VDV, Modric, Bale, Lennon wreaked havoc at WHL.

That year we went on a pretty decent CL run, something we all savour...but look at us now.

Everyone is bloody petrified. The players don't want to let in an early goal because we might lose and not get top 4, so they sit static. The fans want the players to play 'The Tottenham Way', but not if it means we lose a match because we might not make top 4. Levy cycles through managers like the fucking plague because he sees something in them that might not be good enough for Top 4.

I want to play in the Champions League as much as the next man, but what is top 4? Fourth isn't a trophy, or anything discernible really. One year we finished fourth and were beaten to a CL spot by Chelsea who actually won a trophy. And indeed, what is the Champions League? We are an English side, 6 games a season against good European teams doesn't take away the fact that our ultimate goal is to win 38 of them from teams on the same island.

It's actually ruining us. We don't care about how we play, or our players and manager - all we care about is finishing top 4. By hook or crook, it doesn't seem to matter.

The most depressing thing; it won't change. As long as this myth perpetuates about top 4 meaning rockstar players, a shiny new stadium and global domination - we detract from the reason we watch this club. Can you honestly tell me that, this far into their Spurs careers, someone like Soldado who was brought in to get us Top 4 is any better than Crouch, who we all hated?

Even more bemusing is that the groupthink behind making the CL isn't to win it, it's simply to be in it. To make up the numbers.

Sport is irrational, that's why we're all here, but it shouldn't be this irrational. Surely our goal should be to cheer on an attractive, passionate and successful side and to bring in some silverware - rather than demanding the myth that is Top 4?[/quote]





If Carlsberg made winning posts, they'd have made this one. Spot on sir. For me, post of the millennium!!

 

[Mr Pink]

Agree with the sentiment but ultimately its where the perception of football is at these days.

But yes, if we could focus on producing a more cohesive team that works hard and plays some nice stuff under some stability - well, results would be more likely to take care of themselves anyway.

 

[Tit&Ham]

I Get the point, but it is a bit contradicting in itself.

I think the way football is these days, one will get punished for being naive in the long run.

Every athleete and/or club strives to be the best. To be the best, you have to have the best abilities, best tactics and best staff around you and most importantly: you have to have the inner drive to be the best.

If we don't "give a shit" and just goes for it every time, we would probably end up at seventh place and not win any cups. Sure we would have some amazing days winning 5-0 or 4-3, but is that enough? I feel this is slightly the mentality of a loser; let's participate but not care about the result...

It's the way to the top that is somewhat "boring". When you first Get there, you Get better players and you play better football, winning more comfortably.

Our approach now (like most teams) is reward over consequence. We start the match by attacking, but having control at the back. If we are behind, or 0-0, as the game passes by we increase the risk by attacking with more men. At the same time, the opposition risk less, sending only one or two in counter attack.

The only few problems I have with the way we play is "the tactics within the tactics" (should take copyright on that statement): we are still to static in our attack. We lack our route 1 plan and we especially lack our route 2. Liverpool are deadly in counter attacks. They also have confidence enough to score from build-up play and set pieces. We play the ball to Dembele, hope he loses his man, and take it from there...

So forget about top 4? Not a chance for me! (and if Liverpool Get top 4 My life is over)

 

[SteveH]

The one thing the fans can do is just support Spurs.

If you dont like supporting Spurs in 2014, OK I get it. Please stop continually regurgitating your dissatisfaction in places like this and let us who are more realistic and are still enjoying following their team do so.

 

[SuperSpurs69]

Agree with the OP, but also agree with the others regarding the ability to attract better players. Personally if we end up in the Europa league next season, I would rather Levy says focus on that to win it and finish top 7 with a domestic trophy. If we played our best 11 in every game in the EL then we have a very good chance of winning it and getting into the CL that way. Certainly less of a toll than a full season and I see next season as a 4 horse race for that fourth spot as the top 3 are pretty much sewn up.

 

[Legend10]

The one thing the fans can do is just support Spurs.

If you dont like supporting Spurs in 2014, OK I get it. Please stop continually regurgitating your dissatisfaction in places like this and let us who are more realistic and are still enjoying following their team do so.

Hear hear!

 

[spurs-r-us]

The one thing the fans can do is just support Spurs.

If you dont like supporting Spurs in 2014, OK I get it. Please stop continually regurgitating your dissatisfaction in places like this and let us who are more realistic and are still enjoying following their team do so.

Isn't that what I said in the OP? Just support the team without constantly talking about what's going to happen re. that made up trophy.

 

[Dr Know]

Agree with the OP, but also agree with the others regarding the ability to attract better players. Personally if we end up in the Europa league next season, I would rather Levy says focus on that to win it and finish top 7 with a domestic trophy. If we played our best 11 in every game in the EL then we have a very good chance of winning it and getting into the CL that way. Certainly less of a toll than a full season and I see next season as a 4 horse race for that fourth spot as the top 3 are pretty much sewn up.

Genuine question: Even with CL do you think Sherwood can attract better players?

 

[SteveH]

Isn't that what I said in the OP? Just support the team without constantly talking about what's going to happen re. that made up trophy.

Here we go again, its not a "made up trophy" it's CL qualification. Its 2014 not 1984.

Wake up people, top 4 is the holy grail to us in 2014.

But its a target and nothing more 'or less'

 

[SteveH]

Genuine question: Even with CL do you think Sherwood can attract better players?

Money - CL - manager. In that order IMHO.

 

[teok]

Getting in the champions league means that bale, modric etc will stay. Not being in the champions league means they will leave, simple as that really.

Settling for mid table mediocrity might be enough for some but not for me.

 

[tiger666]

Getting in the champions league means that bale, modric etc will stay. Not being in the champions league means they will leave, simple as that really.

Settling for mid table mediocrity might be enough for some but not for me.

You think they still wouldn't have wanted to go to Real Madrid, arguably the biggest club in the world, just because we were in the Champions League?

 

[L-man]

There's no glory in winning a domestic cup anymore. Sad but true. FA cup has lost it's magic

Top 4 is where it's at to make our club look more attractive. Players just want to be playing against the best. Rather than winning a few games against lower league opposition and one or two big games to win the trophy

Look at the last 3 winners of the FA cup. Wigan, bet it takes people about 5 minutes to try and remember last seasons winner off the top of their head. The 2 previous ones I'm not even sure, Chelsea and City maybe?

I'd rather be having glory nights under the lights at The Lane playing Spain and Germany's best rather than an FA cup replay in a 80% full stadium against Stevenage or Fulham on our way to the final